Physical & Quantitative Biology

CHE 558 / PHY 558

Fall / MWF 10 – 10:50 AM in Laufer Center 101

Course goals: The central idea of this course is the free energy, the quantitative way we understand driving forces, i.e., the equilibria and rates in chemistry, physics and biology. We describe the underpinning components, the entropy and energy. We explore the microscopic interactions -- including hydrogen bonding, van der Waals, electrostatics and hydrophobic forces -- that explain physical and chemical mechanisms in biology and are the workhorse tools in computational drug discovery. We show how these basic ideas are applied: binding affinities are the basis for drug discovery; coupled binding is the basis for how biological machines convert energy and transduce signals; and polymer free energies are the basis for the folding of protein and RNA molecules.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITYEach student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person¹s work as your own is always wrong. Any suspected instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONEmail to your University email account is an important way of communicating with you for this course. For most students the email address is
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¹, and the account can be accessed here: http://www.stonybrook.edu/mycloud. *It is your responsibility to read your email received at this account.*

Students are expected to notify the course professors by email of their intention to take time out for religious observance. This should be done as soon as possible but definitely before the end of the add/drop¹ period. At that time they can discuss with the instructor(s) how they will be able to make up the work covered.

DISABILITIESIf you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, you should contact the staff in the Disability Support Services office [DSS], 632-6748/9. DSS will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential. Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the website: http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.shtml.

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENTStony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the University Police and the Office of University Community Standards any serious disruptive behavior that interrupts teaching, compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or inhibits students¹ ability to learn. See more here: http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/behavior.shtml